Vanderbilt coach James Franklin is exhibit 18,246 in how jokes can be taken the wrong way. And it led to the second-year Commodores coach to apologize for it.

Speaking to Nashville radio station 104.5 The Zone earlier this week, Franklin’s comments seemed to allude that he hires assistant coaches based on the appearance of their wives.

“I’ve been saying it for a long time, I will not hire an assistant coach until I’ve seen his wife,” Franklin said in the interview. “If she looks the part, and she’s a D-1 recruit, then you got a chance to get hired. That’s part of the deal.

“There’s a very strong correlation between having the confidence, going up and talking to a woman, and being quick on your feet and having some personality and confidence and being fun and articulate, than it is walking into a high school and recruiting a kid and selling him.”

Those comments did not set well with Vanderbilt vice chancellor of athletics David Williams, who told Franklin how “inappropriate” the words were, The Tennessean reported.

“I didn’t hear about the (comments) until (Thursday) and I have talked to Coach about it,” Williams told The Tennessean. “Coach is sorry that he made that statement. He’s issued an apology on Twitter. I’ve talked to him about how inappropriate his statements were and how offensive they could be to some people.

“He said he was really in a joking mode, if you like, and didn’t mean all of that. And I explained that’s a thing you don’t even joke about.

“None of those things are criteria for hiring at Vanderbilt.”

Franklin took to Twitter to apologize himself for the comments, saying in a series of tweets, “Attempt at humor obviously fell a few yds short. Was speaking to the courage it takes 4 men 2 approach the women who become their wives!!!!!

“If a man can convince the women of his dreams 2 marry him, he can probably do just about anything, that type of confidence along w/ coaching.

“Skills is what I am looking 4. As a husband & father of 2 daughters I regret the way I conveyed my message!

“I clearly used language that doesn't reflect my views on women and I am SORRY!”